Written Answers Nos. 385-402
385. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) who entered a new contract with the HSE and commenced work on 9 November 2018 will receive payment for working duties; his views on whether the process in place is adequate with new employees having to wait three months to receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4145/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
387. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be arranged for a person (details supplied). [4156/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive, HSE, is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for inpatient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
388. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons treated for gambling addiction in each of the years 2015 to 2018, by age range, gender and the geographical location in which they were treated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4157/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
389. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the status of the development of the rehabilitation unit at Roscommon University Hospital; when planning will be submitted for the project; the overall capital allocation for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4160/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to this matter.
390. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the status of plans for the ward block extension at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway; the stage the proposed development is at; when the finalisation of financing will be achieved; the timeframe for completion of works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4161/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to this matter.
391. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if the design stage of the new central sterile services department at Roscommon University Hospital will be progressed in 2019 in order to meet the required HIQA standards; the funding allocated to progress the project through the design phase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4162/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
392. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health if the capital commitment for the comprehensive upgrade of hospitals (details supplied) is secure and will not be subject to a review in view of the capital overspend on the national children's hospital; if the commitment given by him and the HSE to provide additional capital for the long-term stay units in the hospitals is guaranteed; if works will commence in 2019 as promised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4163/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive is currently developing its Capital Plan for 2019. The HSE Capital Plan will determine the projects that can progress in 2019 having regard to the available capital funding, the number of large national capital projects currently underway and the relevant priority of each project. The requirements of community nursing units and other health capital projects, currently at various stages of development, are being considered as part of this process.
393. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the actions he is taking to prohibit health insurers from excluding model 2 public hospitals for elective procedures; his views on whether it is acceptable that insurers will exclude procedures in one hospital within a hospital group but cover it in another hospital within the group with the same consultant performing the procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4185/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Health, I do not have a role in the commercial decisions of any private health insurance provider. It is important to note that private health insurance companies are free to design the products they provide, as long as they comply with the Minimum Benefit Regulations.
The Minimum Benefit Regulations ensure that all private health insurance consumers obtain an appropriate minimum level of health insurance cover regardless of what plan they purchase and that every plan available is inclusive of a minimum suite of benefits/procedures, some of which are available to the market as a whole and some of which will be applicable specifically to either men or women.
The matter that the Deputy has raised does not fall under the scope of the Minimum Benefit Regulations. Health insurance customers should ensure that they have an adequate level of cover, which is suitable for their needs and allows them to receive treatment in their preferred location.
It is also important to note that every citizen is entitled to opt to be treated under the public healthcare system, which may include the hospitals that are not covered for the treatment under a particular private health insurance policy.
394. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been made regarding the use of a building (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4186/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to this matter.
395. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if the location of a service (details supplied) has been confirmed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4193/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
396. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment with a consultant from CAMHS; the average waiting time for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4195/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
398. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adolescents in Cork city and county on a waiting list for CAMHS services; the length of time they have been waiting in bands of three months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4198/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
399. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the length of time a person (details supplied) must wait for cataract surgery; the average wait time for such surgery in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4206/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to hospital treatment is a key priority for Government.
It is acknowledged that cataract surgery is among the most common surgical procedures carried out in the ophthalmology specialty. It was in this knowledge that when proposals for the joint HSE/National Treatment Purchase Fund Inpatient and Day Case Action Plan were under development last year, I sought a particular focus on reducing waiting times for a number of high volume specialties including cataracts. The Action Plan, allocated a quarter (5,000 out of 20,000) of the planned NTPF procedures to cataract treatments.
Waiting list figures for December 2018, published by the NTPF, show that considerable improvements have been made to the number of patients waiting for an inpatient or day case procedure, which has fallen to 70,204 from the peak of 86,100 in July 2017. This represents a reduction of over 18% in the overall number of patients waiting for a procedure. Over the same period, the waiting lists for cataracts have reduced from over 10,000 to 6,440 representing a reduction of 36%.
In 2018, the Action Plan also recommended that the HSE and NTPF identify sustainable initiatives to improve waiting times. In this context, a dedicated centre for cataract surgery in Nenagh opened last July, and at full capacity will be capable of delivering up to 2,000 procedures annually. The centre is ideally located to enable the UL hospital group, in collaboration with the HSE and NTPF, to maximise the use of the centre through collaboration with other hospital groups so that patients from surrounding regions can be referred to the centre for their treatment.
In relation to the average wait time for cataract surgery in County Limerick, please see the following table.
Average Wait Time for Cataract Surgery Limerick vs Nationally as at 24/01/2019
|
Date |
Area of Residence |
Average Wait Time (Days) |
|
24/01/2019 |
Limerick |
148 |
|
25/01/2019 |
National |
145 |
In relation to the patient query element of the question, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
400. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of unannounced missed hospital appointments at Sligo University Hospital and St. Patrick's Hospital, Carrick-on-Shannon, respectively, in 2017 and 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4212/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the number of unannounced missed hospital appointments at Sligo University Hospital and St. Patrick's Hospital, Carrick-on-Shannon, respectively in 2017 and 2018, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
401. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting lists for eye appointments, including outpatients and inpatients, and procedures to be carried out in County Laois; the number of doctors who are working on same in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4213/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the number of persons on the waiting lists for eye appointments including outpatients, inpatients and procedures to be carried out in County Laois and the number of doctors that are working in same in County Laois, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
402. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of, and if he will address, the ongoing respite crisis for families in County Cavan (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4214/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities, which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity; and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive, HSE, for direct reply to the Deputy.
